Medicine/cosmetic cabinet with pivoting mirror assembly

ABSTRACT

A medicine/cosmetic cabinet recess or surface mounted with a framed door with a separately hinged mirror inset. A front door frame assembly with a pivoting mirror laid within the door framing provides 2-way access to a storage space within which may have adjustable shelving. 
     The front door frame assembly is positioned outward from the wall so it appears as a decorative framed mirror parallel to the wall. The door frame assembly comprises of a swinging door frame with both a rear surface and a front surface, and a separate mirror which pivots individually when opened. This allows the door to be opened with the mirror closed, just the mirror to be opened which pivots in the opposite direction of the door or both may be opened simultaneously. This allows the user very close viewing in the mirror without leaning, turning or bending.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Conventional medicine/cosmetic cabinets include a cabinet and hinged door structure that typically includes a mirror on its outer surface. It is not uncommon for such a cabinet to be placed on or within a wall that is adjacent and perpendicular to a larger wall mirror over a bathroom counter, such that the hinge of the door is near the wall mirror. In such an installation, the mirrored door may be readily pivoted away from the cabinet, thereby allowing easy access to the contents of the cabinet. Further, as the mirrored door is opened it opens to be in parallel alignment facing the wall mirror, thereby not allowing the person to see themselves in the mirror and depending on where they look, and the position of the mirrored door, different views of their face.

Such conventional medicine/cosmetic cabinets are difficult to use for close-up observation of one's face. With the installation previously described, the person must lean over the counter or sit on the bathroom counter to get their face close to the mirrored door or to the larger wall mirror if one exists. Conventional medicine/cosmetic cabinets have additional drawbacks such as they can only be opened from one side.

Clearly, then, there is a need for a mirrored medicine/cosmetic cabinet that allows access to the cabinet, and will allow the mirror to open so it will be parallel to the person and right in front of their face. The cabinet design allows it to be mounted or recessed on any side wall without any additional modification and it would still operate as intended. Such a needed device, even when opened, would be aesthetically pleasing, durable, and easy to clean and maintain. Finally this medicine/cosmetic cabinet would be relatively simple to manufacture.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The front door frame assembly is positioned outward from the wall for presenting a front cabinet or decorative framed mirror parallel to the wall. The medicine/cosmetic cabinet further includes a door frame assembly for closing against the front cabinet face and for covering the storage space. The door frame assembly comprises a swinging door with both a rear surface and a front surface, and a mirror which pivots in the opposite direction of the door when opened. The hinged swinging door frame assembly is typically a rectangular or square open box. The mirrored door fully covers the contents of the cabinet, and is mounted to the swinging door frame assembly by a set of hinges on the opposite side of the door frame assembly hinges. The swinging door frame assembly may include a latch and catch for maintaining closure of the swinging door frame assembly against the front cabinet face, and a second latch and catch for maintaining closure of the mirrored door against the front surface of the swinging door frame assembly. The cabinet may be recessed or flush mounted.

With the hinged mirror door closed against the front door frame assembly, the door frame assembly may be pivoted about the first hinge to gain access to the storage space. Likewise, with the swinging door frame assembly closed against the front frame, and with the mirrored door closed within the swinging door frame assembly, the mirrored door may be pivoted about the second hinge as a means to gain access to the storage space through the mirrored door; however this would be an abstract use of the cabinet. The typical use would be to open the door frame assembly as in a standard medicine/cosmetic cabinet, and use the pivoting mirror for close-up work. Both doors can be opened simultaneously to allow access to the cabinet and use the mirror for close-up viewing. As such, access to the storage space may be gained from using either option of access to the medicine/cosmetic cabinet.

This invention is a mirrored medicine/cosmetic cabinet that allows unhindered access to the contents of the cabinet from either side. Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention.

While the invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it is to be clearly understood by those skilled in the art that the invention is not limited thereto. For example, a locking mechanism could be included to prevent either the mirrored door or the door frame assembly from opening, or to include lighting or magnification within in the mirror (not shown). Thus, the scope of the invention is to be interpreted only in conjunction with the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention in 9 drawings:

FIG. 1 is a full on front view of the flush mounted cabinet.

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the invention, illustrating the door frame assembly and mirror pivoted slightly open from the cabinet such that a person could retrieve items from the cabinet and use the mirror.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the invention, illustrating the open door frame assembly, shelf supports, and mirror pivoted slightly open from the cabinet such that a person could retrieve items from the cabinet and use the mirror.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the invention, illustrating the door frame assembly pivoted from a closed position, as well as the mirror open, illustrating the opposite hinge effect of the design, along with optional shelving,

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the invention over a counter and sink, the inset recessed and the door frame assembly partially open;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the invention over a counter and sink, the inset recessed and the door frame assembly partially open and the mirror open;

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the invention over a counter and sink, the inset recessed, the door frame assembly closed and the mirror open;

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the invention over a counter and sink, the cabinet flush mounted and the door frame assembly and the mirror open;

FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the invention over a counter and sink, the cabinet flush mounted and the door frame assembly and the mirror closed;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With initial reference to FIG. 1 a flush mounted medicine/cosmetic cabinet 8 with door frame assembly 2 that appears as a framed mirror 3 that is a door. A set of hinges 6 hold the mirror 3 in place. The hinges 6 could be of any type of hinge and not limited to piano, butt, concealed, and so on.

FIG. 2 illustrates the option of a recessed medicine/cosmetic cabinet inset 1. The cabinet inset 1 is configured so that the cabinet inset 1 can be flipped upside down to open correctly on the opposite wall. There are no right side or left side cabinets. Attached to the cabinet inset 1 is a door frame assembly 2 which surrounds a mirror 3. The mirror 3 pivots outward and opposite from the door frame assembly 2 opening using hinges 6 which are positioned just within the door frame assembly 2 such that the mirror 3 will open from the closed position by at least 90 degrees to place the mirror 3 perpendicular with the door frame assembly 2. The door frame assembly 2 stays closed to the cabinet inset 1 using an optional latch 4 a (and an optional catch 4 b as shown in FIG. 4) The mirror 3 includes a latch 5 a (and a catch 5 b as shown in FIG. 3) attached to said door frame assembly 2 and closing against so as to cover the storage space and hide contents of cabinet inset 1. Adjustable shelving for the cabinet can be installed using the shelf support holes 9 b.

FIG. 3 illustrates the cabinet inset 1 recess mounted with the mirror 3 of a size to fit within the door frame assembly 2 yet cover the contents of the cabinet inset 1, as well as the shelf supports 9 a, and is hinged 7 to the swinging door frame assembly 2. As such, the mirror 3 swings pivotally from the door frame assembly 2 towards the person and away from the wall in at least a 90 degree angle. The mirror 3 is held closed to the door frame assembly 2 using a catch 5 b (and a latch 5 a as shown in FIG. 2) that is attached to the mirror 3, and the door frame assembly 2 is held closed using the optional latch 4 a (and an optional catch 4 b as shown in FIG. 4).

FIG. 4 Illustrates the cabinet inset 1 with the door frame assembly 2 partially open providing shelf 10 access which sit on shelf supports 9 a which are placed in the holes 9 b. The shelf supports 9 a can be any shelf supports 9 a that can fit in a hole to support a shelf 10. The shelves 10 may be supported by any supporting means 9 a; this is just one example of the supporting means for the shelves 10. The mirror 3 is released from latch 5 a (and a catch 5 b as shown in FIG. 3) and the door frame assembly 2 can be released from optional latch 4 a and optional catch 4 b which allow the cabinet inset 1 to be accessed unabated. Hinges 7 allow the door frame assembly 2 to remain open for access in to the cabinet inset 1. The cabinet inset 1 is configured the exact same way so that the cabinet inset 1 can be flipped upside down to open correctly on the opposite wall. There are no right side or left side cabinets.

FIG. 5 Illustrates a top view of the cabinet inset 1 a and 1 c recess mounted in a left or right side wall, and cabinet inset 1 b in a front-facing wall. The door frame assembly 2 a, 2 b, and 2 c is slightly opened showing access to the inside of the cabinet inset 1 a, 1 b, and 1 c. The cabinet inset 1 a and 1 c are configured the exact same way so that the cabinet inset 1 a and 1 c can be flipped upside down to open door frame assembly 2 a and 2 c correctly on the opposite wall. There are no right side or left side cabinets. They are all the same.

FIG. 6 Illustrates is a top view of the cabinet inset 1 recess mounted in a side wall. The door frame assembly 2 is slightly opened showing access to the inside of the cabinet inset 1, while the mirror 3 is opened at a 90 degree angle for the person to use, if mirror 3, while standing at the counter.

FIG. 7 Illustrates is a top view of the cabinet inset 1 recess mounted in a side wall. The door frame assembly 2 is fully closed to the inside of the cabinet inset 1, while the mirror 3 is opened at a 90 degree angle for the person to use while standing at the counter.

FIG. 8 Illustrates is a top view of the cabinet 8 flush mounted on a front facing wall. The door frame assembly 2 is fully opened at a 90 degree angle to allow full access to the inside of the cabinet 8, while the mirror 3 is opened at a 90 degree angle for the person to use while standing at the counter.

FIG. 9 Illustrates is a top view of the cabinet 8 a and 8 c flush mounted on a left or right side wall, and cabinet 8 b mounted on a front wall. The door frame assembly 2 a, 2 b, and 2 c is fully closed against the cabinet 8 a, 8 b, and 8 c, and the cabinet appears as a framed box or mirror on the wall. The cabinet 8 a and 8 c can be flipped upside down to open door frame assembly 2 a and 2 c correctly on the opposite wall. There are no right side or left side cabinets. They are all the same. 

1. A medicine/cosmetic cabinet comprising: a cabinet body comprising outer side walls, back wall, a top wall, and a bottom wall; at least one door frame assembly hinged to the cabinet surrounding a mirror which is pivotally hinged to open outwardly in a direction opposite that of the door frame; wherein said door frame assembly is hinged to said cabinet body; and wherein said mirror is hinged on the opposite side of the hinge on said door frame assembly.
 2. A medicine/cosmetic cabinet as described in claim 1, wherein said cabinet body comprises of a hard surface.
 3. A medicine/cosmetic cabinet as described in claim 1, wherein said cabinet body is recessively mounted in a wall opening.
 4. A medicine/cosmetic cabinet as described in claim 1, wherein said cabinet body is flush mounted on a wall.
 5. A medicine/cosmetic cabinet as described in claim 1, wherein said door frame assembly comprises of a hard surface.
 6. A medicine/cosmetic cabinet as described in claim 1, wherein said door frame assembly comprises a width slightly larger than said cabinet body.
 7. A medicine/cosmetic cabinet as described in claim 1, wherein said door frame assembly includes a hinge or hinges attached to said cabinet body.
 8. A medicine/cosmetic cabinet as described in claim 1, wherein said door frame assembly may include an optional catch and an optional latch attached to said cabinet body.
 9. A medicine/cosmetic cabinet as described in claim 1, wherein said door frame assembly is surrounding a mirror which is pivotally hinged to open outwardly in a direction opposite that of the door frame assembly.
 10. A medicine/cosmetic cabinet as described in claim 1, wherein said pivoting mirror includes a hinge or hinges attached to said door frame assembly.
 11. A medicine/cosmetic cabinet as described in claim 1, wherein said pivoting mirror includes a catch, and latch is attached to said door frame assembly and closing against so as to cover the storage space.
 12. A medicine/cosmetic cabinet as described in claim 1, wherein shelves are mounted in and supported by shelf supports in holes in the respective outer side walls inside said cabinet body. 